When does the snap officially end?

The correct answer is that the snap officially ends when the ball touches the ground or another player. In football, the snap is the act of starting the play by passing the ball from the center to the quarterback or another player. The specific moment the snap concludes is critical because it defines when the players can engage and when the play officially begins.

When the ball is snapped, its movement is what dictates the continuation of the play. If it touches the ground or another player, it underscores the successful transmission of the ball from the center, thereby completing the snap. Understanding this timing is essential to officiating and playing the game correctly, as it determines the flow of play and subsequent actions by the players.

The other answers do not accurately represent the mechanics of the snap. The referee blowing the whistle signifies a stop in play, not the completion of a snap. A ball caught by the quarterback is a continuation of play, but the snap itself is defined by the ball’s initial movement. Lastly, a penalty being called interrupts play but does not relate to the definition or conclusion of a snap.